Plant Based Burger Substitutes-Are They Really Healthy?

With so many people trying to avoid or reduce eating animal protein  into their lifestyle, it would seem like the new plant based burger would be the answer of giving up traditional beef that can be loaded with saturated fat. But is it really a good replacement despite its mainstream reputation of being healthy?

Now I'm no nutritionist, but I do question  the ingredients and the process of how these type of burgers are produced for consumption. 

There are many plant based burgers out there on the market, with one in particular called Beyond Burger. Many claim it looks and taste like a real burger.

Even if this is the case, what steers me away from even trying some of these meat substitutes is that they are HIGHLY processed. (Check out this Harvard Health Publishing article) -Impossible & Beyond-The Good & Bad about meatless burgers.)  Like I mentioned, I question, the quality of the ingredients  and with most of these burgers being HIGHLY processed, this is  something we should not be consuming on a regular basis.​

​So what makes sense to try to incorporate more plant based burgers that are clean, nutritious and not highly processed?

The answer could be simply getting in your kitchen and making your own using "natural" ingredients such as the old standbys of legumes, nuts and seeds. By experimenting with new recipes and being open to the possibilities, you'll find they are pretty tasty!

How do I know? Well, I experimented this weekend on making a meatless option using walnuts from a recipe I stumbled upon through a google search and ended up on the Food Network website.

This recipe  is simple to make and wasn't too time consuming. And as you can see, the look and texture mimics real beef meatballs!

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​Now, I'm not going to tell you it has the taste of  ground beef, but it definitely is worth giving a try as it was delicious with a homemade marinara I paired them up with. This is a very basic recipe but I think it can be modified with different seasonings and vegetables to give more depth of flavor. 

If you want to give this recipe a try its called  "Meatless Sliders with a Twist". Instead of buns with mine, I enjoyed with whole grain pasta, but I'll leave that option with you, 

Remember, eating more nutritious can be a challenge at times, but trying is always a good option! 

Eat Good! Look Good! Feel Good!
Chef Vanessa